arriba o abajo
/ariba o abaxo/from spelling rules
The phrase arriba o abajo is used to say 'top or bottom' in Spanish.
This phrase is used to ask for or to specify whether something is in a higher or lower position.
Did you know?
- The word arriba comes from the Latin word 'ripam', meaning 'bank' or 'coast', suggesting that 'up' originally referred to the high side of a river bank.
- While arriba means 'up' or 'top', it is also used in the common Spanish exclamation ¡Arriba! to mean 'Come on!' or 'Let's go!'
- While arriba and abajo describe position, Spanish uses different words, encima and debajo, when specifically describing something being 'on top of' or 'underneath' another object.
Examples in context
- la parte superior de la páginaThe top of the page
- la parte inferior de la páginaThe bottom of the page
- ¿Cuál es la parte superior de este documento?What is the top part of this document?
- la parte de arribaThe top part
- el cuaderno de arribaThe notebook on top
- el cajón de abajoThe drawer at the bottom
- la parte de arriba del armarioThe top part of the closet
- la parte de abajo de la páginaThe bottom part of the page
- ¿Lo quieres arriba o abajo?Do you want it on the top or the bottom?
- No sé si ponerlo arriba o abajo.I don't know whether to put it on the top or the bottom.
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are organizing a storage shelf in their kitchen.
- Elena¿Pongo el café arriba o abajo?Should I put the coffee on the top or the bottom?
- AlejandroPonlo arriba, Elena, por favor.Put it on the top, Elena, please.
- ElenaVale, lo pongo arriba.Okay, I'll put it on the top.
- AlejandroGracias, así es más fácil para mí.Thanks, that makes it easier for me.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries abajo, arriba, o, CC BY-SA 4.0.
